Their Forceful Marriage

The unknown brother

After a while, reassuring her brothers that she'd be fine, Kennedy was finally given permission to leave but not after reminding her to have her car checked out. 

Now, driving herself back to the house, she couldn't help thinking about her brothers. Her brothers that annoy the hell out of her with their overprotectiveness and whatnot but, at the same time, her brothers were the best ones a girl could ever ask for. They genuinely care about her and she about them. She found herself chuckling at the conversation they had earlier about that arrogant, idiotic bastard who managed to damage her car.

"He did that? He tried to rip you off with money- did he know who you were?" Reece asked, flabbergasted at the thought of someone offering money to someone who already had much of it. 

"It doesn't matter whether he knew who I was or not. The point is he damaged my car and he didn't even apologize! Are men really that stupid that they don't ever get the point?" Kennedy snapped back.

"Hey! Watch it. We're men, too." Reece lightly warned. 

"Kenny, just get your car fixed. The guy was most likely an asshole. You can't do anything about guys like him. They exist… unfortunately." Riccardo muttered. 

"Damn, right he is! He's an asshole who thinks only of himself and that everything can be fixed with money." she complained to her brothers. 

Now, her thoughts going to that man, she immediately finds her good mood turning sour. Her eyes were on the road although she can feel her face scrunching up with irritation. 

The nerve of that man, she thought. What nerve that was, too. She just met him once, through an accident at that and still, he managed to get inside her head just like that. Now, she's gotten all bothered and annoyed with the whole situation. For some twisted reason, she couldn't seem to shake him off her head. 

But, no, that can't be right. The incident was still just fresh. That's probably why she thought of him every now and then.  

She just got so angry at the thought of him being so careless and then adding more fuel to the fire, making it seem like it was her fault by not accepting his money. Man, if she could show him, she would. She'd show him just how much money she has and rub it in his face. Some revenge that would be.

Although, it's not like she'll see him again. Of course, she wouldn't see him again. What is she thinking?

She shook her head, trying to shake those thoughts out of her head. Before she realizes it, she's already driving into the entrance gate of their house. She parked her car and made her way inside.

"Hey, Consuela." she greeted as their 55-year-old cook and housekeeper came into view. As always, Kennedy found her in the kitchen, cooking with whatever she can get her hands on. She was the best thing that's ever happened to their family.

"Ah, Kennedy! You seem to be home early." she pleasantly pointed out.

Consuela had always been thoughtful of the family, especially when it came to the children. Suffice to say, they were all adults but, in her eyes, they're still young enough to keep making mistakes and that they still need a lot of growing up to do. She treated Riccardo, Reece, and Kennedy as if they're her own. Through the years, she became accustomed to their personalities. Since the two older brothers left, Consuela focused more on Kennedy nowadays.

"What do you mean? I go home whenever." Kennedy shrugged.

Consuela chuckled at her "Exactly my point, honey. You don't ever go home in the afternoon. You always come home before dinner, if not later."

"Well, I just felt like going home, it's not like I have anything to do. I mean, Lucas isn't even here so technically, I don't have anyone to hang out with." the 24-year-old defended.

"Mhmm. Anyways, do you want anything? Want me to fix you some dessert? I know how much you love your sweets." Consuela offered, wanting to indulge Kennedy as if she sensed that the girl almost had a bad day. After a moment, she looked at Kennedy's adorably scrunched up face.

"No, thanks. I think I'll just head up and relax. Call me when dinner's ready, though." she politely declined and turned to leave.

"Of course, dear." and Consuela went back to her cooking as Kennedy made her way upstairs to her room.

As soon as she neared her bed, Kennedy jumped and landed her back upon it. She let out a sigh and reached for her phone. She kept scrolling through her contacts list, stopped as she spotted the name she was looking for and hit 'call'. She only hoped that the person she was calling wasn't too busy.

"Hey, you!"

"Lucas!" she was so glad that her best friend answered the call. Lord knows she needed him now more than ever.

“Hey!” Lucas cheerfully greeted.

Hearing Lucas’ voice brought Kennedy back to the old days, thinking how their friendship’s come a long way.

Lucas and Kennedy became best friends during college. The first time they met, she remembered thinking she was having the worst day seeing as she didn’t know where to go. It was her first day at the university and she didn't even know where her class was, much less the building she was supposed to go into.

So much for not attending the orientations, she thought. 

That was until Lucas showed up. Being a year ahead of Kennedy, Lucas pretty much knew where every building, every floor, or every room leads to. He introduced himself to her and before they knew it, he was walking her to where her class was being held and at that point, Kennedy just knew that they were going to be good friends by the fact that they just clicked.

Of course, there was a time when they tried to date but, funnily enough, there was just nothing there. They even agreed that that moment actually made their friendship stronger. Since then, they’ve been the best of friends. Thick as thieves, they say. Lucas even had the chance to meet Kennedy’s family. Now, basically, Lucas is like another brother to her and the guys.

Kennedy would’ve been able to meet Lucas’ family during his graduation but unfortunately, she had responsibilities she couldn’t afford to miss.

The last year of college was a bit hard on Kennedy since she didn’t have her pal by her side. After graduation, Lucas had to start on his career quickly but promised Kennedy that he’d still visit her whenever he can.

Not long after, Kennedy’s graduation came and of course, Lucas was there to support her but, not before guilt tripping her about not coming to his graduation when he came to hers. Of course, they laughed it off and went to celebrate.

Going back to the present, even after 7 years, their friendship remains the same, getting stronger every time. Only now, they have their own lives to manage. Lucas going into publishing and building his own empire while going to meetings with people around the world and Kennedy getting the shock of her life: an arranged marriage with a stranger, which she has yet to tell her best friend.

“So, how’s it going? How are you? Where are you?” she asked all too quickly.

“Woah! Kens! Slow down! What’s up with you?” Lucas chuckled.

“Come on, dude! It’s been, what? Like two weeks since we last talked to each other. I miss my best friend!” she cheerfully reasoned.

“Uh okay?... I miss you too, bud.” he returned.

“Tell me. What’s going on with you right now and more importantly… when are you planning on coming back?” she asked.

“Well, right now, I'm in Italy in Milan. I've been busy with the meetings but, oh man! You can't imagine how beautiful it is here, Kens. I wish you were here, you would've loved it… And as for the other part, it’s funny you should ask that 'cause I kind of have to go back for a while but, I still have to leave after.” he explained.

“Really?” she asked surprisingly.

“Yeah. My parents called, asked me to come home for some important family stuff.”

“Hm. What sort of stuff?" 

“Uhh, the sort where my brother gets hitched by force, I guess.” Lucas revealed with a laugh.

“Wait, your brother’s getting married?” she asked curiously, wondering how it’s such a coincidence that she’s getting married and Lucas’ brother’s getting married, too.

She got so curious that she didn’t realize she got up, sitting on her bed instead of lying down.

“Yeah! Shockingly but, yes. He is getting married. Apparently, I have to go home and be there for the big announcement or whatever.” he said nonchalantly.

Kennedy let out a small sigh, “then I guess you have to attend another one…” she thought.

“What?”

Her eyes widened when she realized that she had said her thoughts out loud.

“You heard?” she whispered.

“Uh, yeah! I did.” he confirmed.

“Ugh!”

“So, tell me.” Lucas urged.

“I’mgettingmarriedtoo.” Kennedy mumbled.

“Kens, I couldn’t understand a word you said even if I tried. Mind telling me again but, slower maybe?” he softly chuckled.

“Fine. I said… I’m getting married, too.” she finally revealed. Just then, she heard something or should she say 'someone', dropping on the floor followed by a roaring laugh.

She just shook her head at her weird ass best friend and waited for him to finish his laughing fit. If the situation was different, she would’ve been laughing her ass off, too. Lucas knew that Kennedy wasn’t interested in marriage, not by a long shot. However, this time is different. It’s an arranged marriage.

So when she heard that Lucas slowly sobered  up, she spoke.

“Ha ha ha. I’m not kidding, Luc. I am getting married.” she stated.

“That’s ridiculous, Kens! You don’t have a boyfriend. You would’ve told me.” he defended, still not convinced.

“And that’s true! I don’t have a boyfriend.” she assured him.

“Alright. So how- I mean, unless you’re being put up to- … Wait… are you trying to tell me that you got yourself in an arranged marriage?” he asked.

“Well, when you say it like that, it’s not like I wanted to be in an arranged marriage. My dad and his friend set it up.” she explained.

“Really? And you agreed to it? I mean, come on, Kens. If you were to say “no” to it, your father wouldn’t have a problem with that.” he assured confidently.

“No, I know! But, that’s the thing, Luc. I don’t know why but, for some reason, I think I actually want to get married.” she stated.

“What?! Now, you’re just talking crazy. There's no way that that's true! Did something happen while I was away? Should I ask your brothers to get you checked up or something?” he laughed at her.

“I’m being serious! I swear!” she defended.

“Oh yeah? No, I don’t think so. This is about the guy you’re gonna marry, isn’t it?” he knowingly asked.

“Okay, fine! You win!” she grudgingly admitted. 

“Yes! Come on, man. You know better than to lie to me. I can read you like a book!” he bragged.

“Whatever! And what’s wrong with that? Is it so wrong of me to be genuinely curious about the man who I’m supposed to be getting married to?” she asked. 

“No, the problem is that you want to marry a guy you don’t love but, you want to marry that same guy because you’re so curious about him. I mean, tell me that there’s nothing wrong with what I just said.” he challenged.

“Look, I think love’s the easy part. I mean, we're gonna be married to each other so eventually that’s bound to happen.” she reasoned.

“Yeah, right.” he casually agrees.

“You don’t agree with me, do you?” she asked knowingly, no matter how hard she tries to convince him, he still won’t budge. 

“Nope, not one bit. But, I am your best friend so whatever you do, I’ll support you. If you succeed, we’ll celebrate and if you don’t, I’ll be there to say “I told you so”. Either way, I’m all for it.” Lucas casually explained.

“Now, see, that’s what I like about you. Thank you! And thank you for having so little faith in me that you had to go and remind me that my future marriage might not succeed. You suck so bad!” she laughingly insulted.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now… what I want to know is who is this utterly unfortunate man that your father set you up with. What’s his name?”

“Some guy named Killian Dukes.” she answered.

There was sudden pause, then…

“Wait a second, you’re gonna marry my brother?!” he exclaimed.

Kennedy was shocked to say the least.

“What?! Killian Dukes is your brother?! Wait… you’re a Dukes?! How come I never knew that until now?” she exclaimed back.

“You can’t be serious, Kennedy. Really?! All this time you didn’t know my last name? Seriously, I’m pretty sure I might have mentioned my brother’s name a couple times to you. And-and! I remember telling you about my father, Giordano, who was big in the business. Even I figured it out the moment I met your family! Also, I’m actually offended that you didn’t know my last name until now, let alone that I was a Dukes, too!” he ranted annoyingly but, on the inside, he’s laughing his ass off. His best friend could be really stupid sometimes.

“How was I supposed to know any of that? Your brother’s not the only guy who’s named “Killian” and your father’s certainly not the only one named “Giordano”. For all I care, there could be a million people going around the world with those names. And frankly, I never got to meet your family, remember? And also, whenever your father visits my father, he doesn’t say much about his family, let alone enumerate the names of his sons! He was always vague, okay? That’s probably why I never put the pieces together.” she rambled, feeling like an i***t for not realizing it sooner.

“What am I gonna do with you, Pierce?” he breathed and laughed at her.

“I know. I’m an idiot.” she claimed.

“Yeah, you most certainly are!” then he laughed harder.

“Shut up.” she mumbled.

“This is golden! I’m gonna tell your brothers. This s**t is too hilarious!” he teased as kept laughing.

“Ugh, please, don’t. I’ll never hear the end of it.” she pleaded, resting her forehead against the palm of her hand. 

Lucas soon sobered up from laughing and sighed. 

“Well, what do you know? This is gonna be interesting for sure. My brother and my best friend getting married? How much more insanity can I take?” he sarcastically questioned.

“You think it’s gonna be that bad?” she curiously asked.

“No. Not bad. It’s just that I know Killian doesn’t wanna go through with it. It’s bound to be anything but “nice and easy”, as you want to put it.” he bluntly explained.

“Oh.”

“Not to mention the girl he’s been pining over for God knows how long.” he added.

“Really? Does he love her?” she asked curiously.

“He claims to love her but, honestly, if you ask me, I think he’s just infatuated with the change of scenery if you know what I mean.” he explained.

“What? Like, is she playing hard to get?” she wondered if there was something there.

“Meh. Not so much.” he casually answered.

“But, does she love him? ‘Cause I don’t want to be the one who breaks up a relationship like that.” Kennedy wanted to be sure because then she’d be willing to let it all go if Killian was in a relationship.

“Killian? In a relationship? Listen to me, the words “Killian” and “relationship” shouldn’t even be in the same sentence. Relationships never happen with that guy. I mean, my brother’s  always used to getting what he wants when it came to women. But with Thalia… he thinks he’s in love with her all ‘cause she rejected him and because she always says “no” to him, which makes him believe that Thalia’s “different” from all the other girls, you know? I mean, don’t get me wrong….”

So that’s her name. Thalia. she thought.

And Lucas’ monologue just seemed to blur in the background.